During July of 1967, the 38th Major League All-Star game saw the National League beat the American League 2-1 in 15 innings in a game that took place at Angel Stadium in Anaheim. The MVP of the game was Tony Perez of the Cincinnati Reds. A little-known singer named Kenny Rogers formed the group “The First Edition.” The Beatles’ album “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” reached #1 and stayed in the top position for 15 weeks. Bobby Gentry recorded “Ode To Billie Joe.” The Monkees performed at Forest Hills, New York with Jimi Hendrix as the opening act. Five days later, Jimi quit the tour. Silver hit a record $1.87 an ounce. On the last day of July, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards ended their 1 month jail sentence! And…..These are the Top Ten Tunes in the country for the week of July 17, 1967….

This Week (Last Week’s Position in Brackets)

1. WINDY/The Association (1) — the group’s biggest hit. It was #1 for 4 weeks, surpassing their previous biggest all-time hit, “Cherish,” which stayed on top of the charts for 3 weeks in 1966.

2. LITTLE BIT O’ SOUL/The Music Explosion (2) — A “One Hit Wonder” group from Ohio. They released one more tune later this year which didn’t even crack the Top 50 and then disappeared into Rock ‘n’ Roll history.

3. CAN’T TAKE MY EYES OFF YOU/Frankie Valli (3) — This was Frankie’s first solo effort away from 4 Seasons lead singer duties. The group also has a Top Ten hit this summer with “C’mon Marianne” (see #9 below).

4. SAN FRANCISCO (Wear Some Flowers In Your Hair)/Scott McKenzie (4) — He’s another “One Hit Wonder.” This was a song about the “Peace Signs – Hippy – Love – Haight/Ashbury District – Beads – Incense” etc. scene in this, the “Summer of Love.” Anti-Vietnam War demonstrations were abundant in 1967.

5. DON’T SLEEP IN THE SUBWAY/Petula Clark (5) — This was Petula’s 6th and last Top Ten song. She had all six in a span of 2 1/2 years, starting in early 1965 with her first hit, “Downtown.” Pet was one of the most popular female singers from the UK in the “British Music Invasion.”

6. COME ON DOWN TO MY BOAT/Every Mother’s Son (6) — Another “One Hit Wonder” group. They were from New York. They had three more tunes reach the Hot 100 during the next six months or so but each failed to even break in to the Top 40.

7. UP – UP AND AWAY/The 5th Dimension (7) — This song was written by San Bernardino Valley College alumnus Jimmy Webb. He was inspired to write it because of a Hot Air Balloon promotion earlier this year by Inland Empire Top 40 station K/men 129 and one of their DJ’s, William F. Williams, a friend of Jimmy’s.

8. LIGHT MY FIRE/The Doors (12) — Spending its first week in the Top Ten, this would go on to become one of the biggest hits of the year and the group’s signature song. It will reach #1 on July 29th and stay on top for 3 weeks.

9. C’MON MARIANNE/The 4 Seasons (16) — This is one of the very few times in Rock ‘n’ Roll History that a singer is in the Top Ten at the same time with both a solo hit AND a hit with his group!

10. A WHITER SHADE OF PALE/Procol Harum (13) — It is said that THIS song was both John Lennon and Paul McCartney’s VERY FAVORITE tune of the late 60’s. Supposedly, John would pull over and park when it came on his car radio so he could concentrate on listening to it and enjoying it.